DurationThe Work and Travel program unfolds on the period of the summer break(that is no longer than 4 months) and it starts with your arrival on one of the US airports.

Short History

During the 60’s the American State Department set up a series of programs through which young people from around the world had the opportunity to experience the American lifestyle, on a pre-determined period of time. It was initially just a travel program, but it became a genuine force motion, once a more generous program, named Work and Travel, was put forward. For more information about Work and Travel see:

 

http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/
http://bucharest.usembassy.gov/Romana/J_Visa.html

Developing the Work and Travel program

The American State Department realized that many of those who wanted to get to know America throughout cultural exchange programs also wanted to work and earn money. By earning money it was believed that teen-agers would become more interested in participating into such a program. This is how "Work and Travel" began. The program has maintained the same format for 11 years, as a consequence of two major development tendencies on the American market:

• the seasonal request for workforce from American companies;
• the apparition of opportunities for students from Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, along with the socio-economic restructuring and evolution, in what concerns gaining some cultural and working experience in other countries, among which the USA.

In order to promote the intercultural teen exchange and to respond to the American companies’ need, the American State Department came up with the Summer Work and Travel program, which functions on a J1 visa. With this type of visa one has the legal right to travel and work on the territory of the USA during the summer holiday.